Impact of early onset bipolar disorder on family functioning: Adolescents'perceptions of family dynamics, communication, and problems

Objective: This research investigated the impact of adolescent onset bipola r illness on perceived family functioning in stabilized bipolar I (B) and u nipolar (U) probands, and normal controls (C). Method: Sample N = 119: 44 b ipolar 1(17 M, 27 F), 30 unipolar (9 M, 21 F), and 45 controls (19 M, 26 F) . Mean ages: 19.9, 18.5 and 18.2 years, respectively. Instruments: Family A daptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES 11), Parent-Adolescent Communication Scales (PACS), Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents (SA ICA). Results: There were no significant group or sex differences between c ontrols and mood disordered youth - assessed intermorbidly - in ratings of relationship with either parent. Bipolars acknowledged significantly more m inor conflicts with parents than either unipolars or controls. Ratings by m ood disordered subjects were significantly less positive in terms of shared activities and communication with siblings. Mood disordered youth and cont rols were not differentiated on the basis of family adaptability, and all f amily cohesion scores were within population norms. No significant group di fferences were observed in communication with parents. Limitations: This se lf-report study was conducted intermorbidly, does not include objective mea sures of family functioning, nor does it assess the effect of psychiatric i llness in other family members on family functioning. Conclusions: Assessed intermorbidly, bipolar adolescents' perceptions of family dynamics do not seem to diverge significantly from controls. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of adolescent bipolar illness on family life during acute phases of the illness, as well as the effect on family functioning of psychiatric disorders in other family members. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.